Method and apparatus for producing a component by use of a vacuum film

Abstract

In a method for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced composite material, a semifinished product, containing reinforcing fibers, is disposed on a support surface. The semifinished product is covered with a film, draped, in at least one portion, such that at least one fold, extending from the support surface, is produced. A sealing tape is applied along an open edge of the fold, to seal off a space, defined by the support surface and the film, from the ambient atmosphere, in the region of the fold, such that two mutually opposite fold walls are formed partly by the film and partly by the sealing tape. A clip is applied over the fold such that the clip applies a clamping force, which presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other. A vacuum is generated in the space defined by the support surface and the film.

1 . A method for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising the steps:
 disposing a semifinished product, containing reinforcing fibers, on a support surface of a support,   covering the semifinished product with a film, the film being draped, in at least one portion, in such a manner that at least one fold, extending from the support surface of the support, is produced,   applying a sealing tape along an open edge of the fold, in order to seal off from the ambient atmosphere a space defined by the support surface and the film, in the region of the fold, such that two mutually opposite fold walls of the fold are formed partly by the film and partly by the sealing tape,   applying a clip over the fold in such a manner that the clip applies a clamping force, which presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other, and   generating a vacuum in the space defined by the support surface of the support and the film.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip is applied over the fold in such a manner that the clamping force applied by the clip presses the mutually opposite fold walls against each other in a region adjacent to the support surface of the support. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises two mutually opposite limbs, connected to each other at their first ends and which, at least in the region of their second ends opposite to the first ends, are each provided with a clamping portion for applying the clamping force to the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip is elastically biased into a clamping position in which it presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip comprises a locking device for locking the clip in a clamping position in which it presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the clip is fastened to the support surface of the support by a fastener, which applies a pressing force directed perpendicularly in relation to the support surface, onto at least one of the film and the sealing tape, the fastener comprising at least one of a magnet arrangement and a holding device which encompasses an edge of the support. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the fold in a direction perpendicular to the support surface of the support is set by a dimension defining device of the clip that comprises a link extending between two mutually opposite limbs of the clip. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein differing dimensions of a plurality of folds in the direction perpendicular to the support surface of the support are set by the dimension defining device of a plurality of differently shaped clips. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the film is provided with at least one position marking for marking at least one of a position and a dimension of the at least one fold to be draped. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for producing a component from a fiber-reinforced composite material, comprising:
 a support, having a support surface for disposing a semifinished product containing reinforcing fibers,   a film for covering the semifinished product, the film being adapted to be draped, in at least one portion, in such a manner that at least one fold, extending from the support surface of the support, is produced,   a sealing tape adapted to be applied along an open edge of the fold, in order to seal off from the ambient atmosphere a space defined by the support surface and the film, in the region of the fold, such that two mutually opposite fold walls of the fold are formed partly by the film and partly by the sealing tape,   at least one clip adapted to be applied over the fold in such a manner that the at least one clip applies a clamping force, which presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other, and   a vacuum generator configured to generate a vacuum in the space defined by the support surface of the support and the film.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip is configured to be applied over the fold in such a manner that the clamping force applied by the at least one clip presses the mutually opposite fold walls against each other in a region adjacent to the support surface of the support. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip comprises two mutually opposite limbs, which are connected to each other at their first ends and which, at least in the region of their second ends opposite to the first ends, are each provided with a clamping portion for applying the clamping force to the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip is elastically biased into a clamping position in which the at least one clip presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a locking device for locking the at least one clip in a clamping position in which the at least one clip presses the mutually opposite fold walls of the fold against each other. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip is fastened to the support surface of the support by means of a fastener, the fastener being adapted to apply a pressing force, directed perpendicularly in relation to the support surface, onto at least one of the film and the sealing tape, and comprising at least one of a magnet arrangement and a holding device, the fastener encompassing an edge of the support. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a dimension defining device, adapted to set a dimension of the fold in a direction perpendicular to the support surface of the support and which comprises a link extending between two mutually opposite limbs of the at least one clip. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one clip comprises a plurality of differently shaped clips, which are adapted to set, by means of their respective dimension defining devices, differing dimensions of a plurality of folds in the direction perpendicular to the support surface of the support. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , the film being provided with at least one position marking for marking at least one of a position and a dimension of the at least one fold to be draped.